Since 2013, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requires from the citizens of 29 countries and 1 territory a visit in person to collect fingerprints and a picture at the moment of the application for a visitor visa, a study permit or a work permit.
If you want to visit Canada, you will have to know if you need a visitor visa prior to your trip. If you want to go to Canada for reasons that are not business or tourism, you must fill in a visa application in the relevant category, for instance, study or temporary work.
If you are a citizen from one of the countries or territories below and if you are between 14 and 79, you must come in person to a visa application centre (VAC) near your location for a collection of your fingerprints and a picture.
List of countries
You will find below a list of the countries and territories whose citizens must provide biometric data before being allowed to enter Canada as a visitor :
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Saudi Arabia
- Palestine
- Bangladesh
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Some exceptions may be applicable for travellers in transit (under 48 hours), people who are already staying legally in Canada and diplomats, official representatives, consulate workers and their families.
Please note that this list may be updated without prior notice. To verify the requirements for your country, you can visit the following section of the CIC website: "Find out if you need to give biometrics".
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
